Recruiting: high scale Pathfinder, Taldor, aka Byzantium focused

Started by Kolbrandr, June 02, 2013, 03:46:12 AM

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Phaia

of the houses listed in the wiki can ya list the royal houses...it would help with color and background


also can we referance houses that are not listed as part of backgrounds for a house 


The idea i have for a house is that they split from house germande...the family that split was actaully much more capable and  the reason Germande often could claim title. They claim there was a breach of honor left the house to form thier own...so i was wondering if house germande was a royal house or do i need to build a background that liftes the new house up into noble status...either way works  and i have ideas on how to do either just needed a bit of guidance

phaia

Kolbrandr

Any noble house not specifically named under senatorial families in the list of them is of the royal caste.

Quotealso can we referance houses that are not listed as part of backgrounds for a house   

Yes, just give me a précis on them if you're coming up with them out of nowhere.

Quote
The idea i have for a house is that they split from house germande...the family that split was actaully much more capable and  the reason Germande often could claim title. They claim there was a breach of honor left the house to form thier own...so i was wondering if house germande was a royal house or do i need to build a background that liftes the new house up into noble status...either way works  and i have ideas on how to do either just needed a bit of guidance

The Germande are royal caste, yes. Their shtick is that in the midst of their usual arrogance and lack of quality, they produce every so often a scion of the house of staggering quality instead, such that people keep trying to get Germande nobles married into their own houses in hopes of winning that lottery, as it were. One of said prodigies going "screw you guys, I'm building my own house, with blackjack, and hookers! In fact, forget the house!" Is certainly possible

GingerOne

Quote from: EroticFantasyAuthor on June 25, 2013, 11:58:44 PM
Once the campaign starts how frequently is everyone going to be able to post?

I should usually be able to post at least every other day.

I can at least post 1-2 times a week, if not more. All depends on r/l events and such.
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EroticFantasyAuthor

#703
The Shadow Battalion (Rough Draft)
Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide

Overall Alignment: Lawful Evil

Favored Deity:

Battalion Blazon:

Common Classes: Barbarian, Cavalier, Expert, Fighter, Ranger, Rogue, Warrior

Rarer, but not unheard of: Alchemist, Bard, Cleric(of War/Battle Deities), Monk, Oracle, Sorcerer, Wizard, Witch

Unheard of: Cleric, Druid, Inquisitor, Paladin,

Structure: The Battalion is currently 150 individuals strong. It is structured rather simply, consisting of three main ranks. The first rank is called Shadows. The Shadows make up the probationary members of the Battalion. These soldiers for hire as the often assigned contracts that are to be quite frank, fairly easy or simple. These contracts normally include building security, extermination of annoying vermin or bolstering a client's existing force. There are currently around 50 shadows in the Battlion. Members of the second rank are named Fangs. Fangs are currently the largest rank, having around 60 well trained soldiers. The types of contracts that are commonly carried out by Fangs are; personal security, security of specific property, neutralization of dangerous creatures, building security and bolstering of existing elite forces. Those of the third rank are known as Vipers, they number roughly 40 strong. These specialized soldiers for hire are the skilled problem solvers of the Battalion. They are commonly assigned contracts that include assassinations, intelligence gathering, retrieval of personal or items, and item placement. Vipers are usually formed into teams of four to five specialists. New members start out as Shadows. Those Shadows that prove their skill and willingness to honor the contracts they are assigned, are offered the rank of Fangs. Fangs that prove to be extremely talented and are dedicated to the battalion, are offered a promotion to Viper. Clients request either Shadows, Fangs or Vipers when negotiating a contract. The contracts are reviewed and assigned by two of the four founders. If you're a Viper, your contracts are always assigned, the right team or specialist being selected for the contract. As a Shadow or Fang, your contracts are either selected off of a bulletin board, or assigned.

Overview: Roughly six years ago, a small team of four mercenaries appeared and began making name for themselves. They rapidly acquired a reputation of skilled, discreet problem solvers able to assign and carry out nearly any type of covert operation needed by a client. They continued this for about a year, each contract being followed by the letter, completed with patient, calculating skill. It was after this year that they began recruiting, accepting any soldiers for hire that were interested in joining the Battalion. The goal was to create a one stop shop for skilled mercenaries where each contract would be matched with the right soldiers. Whether you are a Shadow, a Fang or a Viper, there is no shortage of work. Someone, somewhere always needs help with a problem.

Every contract is tailored specifically to the client's needs, a client always has the option of remaining anonymous. Depending on the contract, clients are guaranteed the utmost discretion should they wish it. The Shadow Battalion is who the nobles turn to when they need a perfect tool that keeps their hands completely clean of dirt and grim.

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

Not completed, feedback appreciated!  ;D

Apologizes for it taking longer to start on it than I would've liked.

kckolbe

The only thing I would change is to add a third rank for Shadows that prove their worth but don't excel at subtle arts.  Don't get me wrong, the idea of warrior types being treated as less valued than assassins makes sense (as assassins make more money per job), but surely some Shadows will be higher level as well, just less skilled at stealth.  For example, a cleric of war or a barbarian can be an amazing force in a variety of situations, and worthy of a great deal of respect, but would never be able to do the kind of jobs Vipers do.

Also, 250 members is slightly larger than the city guard (though the city guard does ignore some areas).
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Intro Thread

Meliai

House Sclerina

Overall House Alignment: Neutral Evil

Common Classes: Aristocrat, Sorcerer, Bard

Rarer, but not unheard of: Expert, Rogue, Fighter, Cavalier

Rare: Oracle, Alchemist, Wizard

Extremely uncommon: Paladin, Cleric

Favoured Deity: Calistria, though there are small, secret pockets of diabolism among the family, often affiliated with Demon Lords who are associated with lust and hedonism. The rare good-natured scion tends to be drawn towards the Empyreal Lord Arshea.

House Blazon: A large bunch of golden grapes on a field of white.

House Motto: Grace Beyond Reproach

Overview: Today House Sclerina is famous (or infamous, depending on who you ask) for hedonism and excess, but this wasn’t always the case. One of Taldor’s truly ancient royal families (the much lauded violet eyes occasionally show up in sons and daughters of the line) they were once on the forefront of expansion and innovation, having grown with their nation from a minor family of slight repute to a powerful house of vast influence. In the nation’s early years they were winemakers of great renown, and while the quality of their product has declined with their morals, they still own and operate several vast vineyards in northwestern Taldor. While never a particularly martially or magically powerful house, they have been at the center of the Taldan cultural scene almost since the nation’s birth, and perhaps a presence at the heart of the rot that would set in fueled their own thousands of years descent into decadent excess.

A powerful presence in Oppara’s highborn social scene, House Sclerina is known for three things; slaves, vice, and parties. The three overlap quite often. Most of the family’s wealth comes from the cottage industry of slave trade they’ve slowly built up over the generations; in modern Taldor they are the go-to source for human (or humanoid) merchandise. Galley slaves are often bought and sold by the boatload, with the purchaser never seeing their wares, but a private courtyard in the center of the family’s shops in the Grandbridge district regularly holds private auctions for domestic slaves and the occasional lot of hard laborers, though few in Taldor make extensive use of such workers. Among certain social circles, having particularly beautiful or exotic domestic slaves is seen as a sign of status and while sex slavery is not officially condoned by the state, it’s no real secret that this is the true fate of many such purchases, particularly within House Sclerina itself.

Sorcerous blood is unusually common within the house. The official story is that this is the legacy of a number of particularly powerful arcane caster’s among the family’s Azlanti ancestors, but in truth it’s more likely a side effect of the numerous “exotic” affairs members of the family have indulged in over the generations. While such inhuman-blooded bastards are usually shipped off without any ceremony, one will occasionally pass as a normal son or daughter of the house and continue to pass on their legacy until a sorcerer or two is born.

House Structure: Too debauched for a particularly firm chain of command, beyond a directive to obey the Grand Actuarius, family members are usually left to the languor of such indolence as pleases them. With that said, the positions of managing various important industries within the house carry both prestige and a measure of authority (when acting on behalf of their interests) over others, the Sclerina holding them usually appointed by the Actuarius to such. The Master of Revels, given the movement of the family from one gala to the next, holds the most power in the house outside of its actual head.


Notable Historical Sclerina

Xene Sclarina, The Winemaker (druid/Sorceress)

Though not officially the original head of the family (that distinction belongs to her husband) Xene’s work laid the foundation for House Sclerina’s greatness. Born to druids of the Verduran Forest, she was promised to a minor Taldan noble who’d gained some measure of favor with the current grand prince to cement an agreement between the druids and Taldans in the years long before the Treaty of the Wildwood was signed.

Though there was no real love between Xene and her husband, the young druid fulfilled her marital obligations willingly and set about making use of the hands she and her husband had been given. Within a few years the acres of bare farmland had been transformed into lush, fruitful vineyards and a number of risky loans allowed the family to establish the first of what would be many wine making operations. It was many years before the first fruits of her labors were ready for consumption, but when they were the House’s wines were world famous in a matter of months and in demand everywhere from Varisia to Osirion, launching the fledgeling house into fame and fortune.

Xene quietly led her House on a course of gradual but steady expansion for the rest of her life, carefully laying the groundwork that would allow her descendants to prosper. She’s been spinning in her grave so long that her bones have disintegrated.

Iagares Sclerina, the Debauched Prince (Aristocrat)
House Sclerina has produced a few Grand Princes, the most relatively recent of which was Iagares, who ruled Taldor briefly. The first few months after his inauguration seemed no different from that of your average Grand Prince, but before long there was a sharp decline in the quality of his rule. Whether he went mad with power or his handlers just lost control of him, no one is quite sure, but over the course of just a few months the imperial palace became an oasis of hedonism and decadence.

Stories of Grand Prince Iagares' reign are popular in seedier taverns, treated as a form of lascivious entertainment with the more horrific consequences of the prince's excess gleaned over or ignored altogether. Though his reign wasn't all that long ago (occurring somewhat early in the midst of the centuries long war with Qadira), most of it was stricken from official records, leaving most people unsure which of the tales are true, which were created from whole cloth and which fall somewhere in between.

Stories say he bedded countless whores, parading them around the palace in the dress of highborn ladies. Others claim he frequented the gladiatorial battles, demanded such extravagant and bloody battles that before long the Oppara Arena began running out of slaves to battle, leading him demand a whole section of unbearded peasants be forced into the battlegrounds so his trip wouldn't be wasted. Particularly popular in the taverns are stories of how he seduced or forced himself upon numerous noblewomen, publicly commenting on their skills, or lack thereof, and ranking them against one another. Some say he ordered his Ulfen Guard to execute petitioners on the slightest whim so often that when the assassins came for him, they stepped aside and let him be slaughtered right on the throne (though of course no one suggests this when a member of the Ulfen Guard might overhear.)

Whatever the truth of his reign, it was barely three years after his inauguration when one of the countless assassins sent for him finally struck true, cutting the mad prince's head from his shoulders while he still sat upon the throne in the imperial palace. Most busts and paintings depicting Iagares were subsequently destroyed by his successor, but a few still exist in House Sclerina's estates, all depicting the hedonistic tyrant as a gallant, heroic figure, often dressed as a famous hero or even a god.


Notable Members of House Sclerina

Grand Actuarius Georgios Sclerina, The Consumate Gentleman (Fighter (Rondelero duelist) 9/Ranger (falconer) 9)

As his self-proclaimed title would imply, Georgios Sclerina, the current Head of the House, styles himself as a sophisticated gentleman of leisure. Leadership of the family fell to his shoulders after the death of his father and he gladly accepted it, despite having no real interest in managing the family. Rather he farms out the vast majority of his responsibilities to lesser relatives, adding the title of head of the house to his ever growing collection of honorifics while doing none of the actual work that goes along with it.

Georgios spends most of his time attending lavish parties thrown at the Houses estates, or on lengthy hunting trips in Taldor and abroad, always bringing home the largest and most impressive trophies (though a few of his retainers whisper that some of his stories are wildly exaggerated.)

Though he's made no move to reverse the decline of his house, Georgios will jump to the defense of House Sclerina at the drop of a hat, challenging anyone who dares speak ill of the slavemongering vice peddlers to a bloody public duel.


Lady Sophia Sclerina, the Biting Whip (Inquisitor of Calistria 11/Rakshasan Sorceress 11)

The youngest daughter of a minor branch of the family, Sophia was...troubled from a young age. Servants were frightened of her even when she was less than half their size, family pets would mysteriously go missing, her tantrums were the stuff of legends. Everyone knew the child was Wrong, even beyond the usual unsavory predilections children of the Sclerina family are prone to developing.

She was sheltered and coddled for most of her childhood, eventually given over to the Church of Calistria in her early adolescence in the hopes that they could mold the girl's vicious instincts into a more acceptable form. Surprisingly, they were successful. Mostly...

Sophia now primarily serves the family as a trainer of slaves. She has a sharp eye for defiant and willful slaves too difficult for normal trainers, purchases them at a steep discount when no one else can handle them, and then slowly and gleefully breaks their wills. All the rumors say that her methods are horrifically cruel, but the young sadist is quite intelligent and carefully keeps all her workings behind closed doors. No one ever sees the slaves in her "care" until they've been thoroughly broken and trained.

Sophia enjoys nothing more than causing pain, especially to those she believes have wronged her or her beloved family. While most of her time is spent breaking stubbornly defiant slaves, she revels in true sadistic glee when able to "justly punish" an enemy of the family. Killing them would never do; she's quite careful to keep her playthings alive. After all, if they wronged the family, what better punishment than to twist and break them until they willingly serve the House?

Though she's truly devout, her methods are often extreme, even for Calistria's church. Sophia was gifted with a silver tongue and a lovely body however, which more often than not ensures she gets her way. The impressive sums of money she donates to the church probably help...


Lord Dionysios Sclerina, The Philosopher (Alchemist 8/Aristocrat 8)

Rumor has it that Dionysios had real potential, once. He was an excellent student, and in his youth he invented a few alchemical solutions that still bring in a steady stream of income. With his schooling behind him he was put to work in one of House Sclerina's less public industries, concocting exotic and potent drugs to amuse the nobility or give the poor a temporary escape.

Over the years he rose through the ranks, but as he gained more power he abused more power. Though now he theoretically runs the branch of the family that peddled vice in Oppara, Dionysios's own drugs have all but destroyed his formerly brilliant mind, and his underlings struggle to manage the business despite the alchemist's often contradictory or nonsensical orders.

Dionysios styles himself a philosopher, and will drone on for hours to anyone who will listen about his thoughts on life, the universe and everything else. Of course, unless you happen to be on the exact same concoction of drugs and alcohol that Dionysios is currently enjoy absolutely nothing he says makes a lick of sense.


Lord Nikolaos Sclerina, Master of Revels (Sorcerer 10/Aristocrat 10)

Nikolaos considers himself a shining star among Oppara's social elite, and it's hard to argue against him. The corralling force behind nearly all of House Sclerina's legendary parties, he knows anyone who's anyone in Oppara and has a finger on the pulse of society. If a young bard is making a stir, on an interesting foreigner is visiting the city, Nikolaos knows.

Vain, flamboyant and loud, most people write Nikolaos off as a shallow fool (though admittedly a shallow fool who throws really, really great parties) but in truth he's far more clever than he lets on. While House Sclerina's parties certainly appeal to their own hedonistic interests, they're also a convenient way to farm blackmail material. Most have no idea that Nikolaos is sitting on this treasure trove of dirty little secrets (if they did, they might not have quite so much fun at his parties) and the house uses them only in dire circumstances.

Though most of his true interest is lascivious, Nikolaos likes to style himself as a patron of the arts. House Sclerina's parties are often the first venues of many young graduates from the bardic colleges, though rumor has it it's no coincidence that performers are uniformly female and that the audition process is quite thorough. Instructors at both of Oppara's bardic colleges have urged their students to avoid said parties, but there are performers among every class who are eager to seize their first chances at a bit of fame.


Lord Adralestos Sclerina, Man of Action (Rogue 5/Aspis Agent 7//Fighter 12 (Rondelero Duelist))

If there is one thing the Durahan stand as an object lesson in, it is that the world is full of do gooders. And not all of them have the decency to fritter their lives away in some neverending battle against unspeakable things that are kind enough to kill said heroes off every so often. No, some of them instead free slaves, sink ships carrying illicit goods or even burn whole crops of narcotics. While the Sclerina generally speaking rely on outside talent for succor when such difficulties arise, every so often the house manages to breed their own champion.

Adralestos is a man with a peculiar sense of self-awareness and industry, enough to know that he thoroughly enjoys the decadence and decay he grew up within and is surrounded by, yet also knowing that if decadence goes too far to weakness, his family will lose the very means that provide his lifestyle. What the family needs then is a champion who can mire themselves in corruption, nurture it, foster it, without themselves becoming corrupted. A man able to be elegantly wasted in sensual decay, yet with an iron core of purpose. There is something disturbing about a self-possessed youth simply deciding to be such a man, and then spending years making himself into one. It speaks perhaps to a willpower and clarity as to border on sociopathy.

This man of will might have been a truly dazzling and epic figure in another family. Amongst the Sclerina, he has the distinction of having traveled the length and breadth of Avistan and Garund alike, securing markets and shipments, organizing intelligence, defense and counterstrike, and taking savage revenge where the family has been wronged. The malign merchants of the Aspis Consortium consider him a friend and ally, offering training in organizational secrets. He has dined with the infernal house of Thrune in the finest palaces and slavetaking chieftains of the Mwangi Beykar tribes in deepest jungles. He has clashed blades with Eagle Knights of Andoran on the decks of burning ships, and hunted the liberators of the Bellflower Network into wastelands. He has delivered an eloquent defense of the slave trade to the Primarch of Absalom himself. His retinue of companions and network of minions could almost be something of a personal trading coster, were it not so closely twinned to the house itself. The stories say he has even survived romancing a succubus, and has otherwise work to check fiendish influence, but only to a degree where it would impair house function. He is swift and sure, bold and intelligent, compelling and keen. And he is all these things in the name of keeping men enslaved and addicted, in the name of purveying spiritual dissolution and enjoying the fruits of that trade as his due.

He has also curtailed his more far ranging travels of late with the death of the old family patriarch, keeping about Oppara to ensure the smoothness of a cousin’s rule, that none of the family minions or external enemies look to take advantage, that the books are largely in order, all that sort of thing (some also say it is to continue a fairly dark romance with the Lady Sophia). He looks to have no particular interest in rule over his family, as he seems to view that as an impediment to his real work.

Some view his career, and recent home focus in the name of family dedication to be a dark mirror to that of Aurelian Branas. Certainly both men seem to know each other, and regard each other with thinly veiled and deeply personal hate. Neither has however spoken to the why of such things.


Strengths of House Sclerina

Dirty Little Secrets - House Sclerina has countless bits of dirt on the members of numerous royal and senatorial houses. Though generally only used in dire straits, a simple letter to a prominent nobleman with a predilection or two that might be frowned upon by polite society is often all it takes to clear up a bit of trouble the house may find itself in.

Legacy - They may be awful, but they’ve been awful for a long, long time. In this age of declination, those who haven’t blinded themselves to Taldor’s fall from grace are hesitant to make any real move against a part of their lost glory, even if they’ve fallen further than most.

Slaves, slaves, slaves - They’ve got a lot of them. Seriously. And while many were born into slavery and know only what they were trained for, a surprising large number used to live other lives, and possess a diverse set of skills they might begrudgingly lend to House Sclerina in the hopes of winning their freedom.

Friends with deep pockets - House Varian and House Sclerina get along quite well; Sclerina’s loans to fuel some truly epic spectacle or another are always repaid promptly and with interest, so requests for a bit of cash are always promptly acceded. The Stromfords besides rely on the house to find good prices for the slaves their colonial endeavours will sometimes claim, and are happy to loan out thugs and enforcers in exchange.

Vice- From supplying and owning brothels, to having a direct pipeline to the narcotic crops of Katapesh (along with producing their own drugs), the Sclerina could almost be something of a crime guild, were not their activities both largely legal, and on a scale of international profit most thieves’ guilds could never dream of on their greediest day.


Weaknesses of House Sclerina

Slaves, slaves, slaves - galley slaves are more or less accepted among Taldan nobility (they don’t have to see them after all, and of course only those awful lazy vagabonds end up as galley slaves) as are domestic slaves, but House Sclerina goes far beyond the normal scope of human bondage in Taldor. Sclerina makes those who tend to be on the moral fence when it comes to slavery very, very uncomfortable, and the depths to which they’ve sunk have caused more than a few to rethink their acceptance of slavery.

Hedonism and debauchery - Modern House Sclerina cares little for anything but the pursuit of pleasure


Foreign Relations Worth Noting

Andoran - the fledgling nation would like to see House Sclerina and everyone who’s ever colluded with them wiped from the face of Golarion. Sclerina thinks Andoran needs to loosen up.

Golarion’s slave-owning nations - Always on the lookout for strong backs and exotic good looks to sell to their countrymen, along with markets with exotic tastes to cater to, Sclerina’s business-minded sons and daughters keep close ties to nearly all of the world’s nations that trade in lives, including...

Cheliax, Katapesh and Qadira - much to the displeasure of many of their countrymen, House Sclerina maintains relatively friendly ties to both Taldor’s former colony of Cheliax and their long-time enemy, Qadira, or at least to their slave markets. This has, from time to time, caused them no small amount of trouble back home, but the business benefits they enjoy from their collusion with the two nations outweighs the problems it causes. Though in times of heavy disapproval, they keep such dealings extremely quiet. Still, on the rare occasions Taldor needs to make some kind of diplomatic effort with those nations happen, a Sclerina is usually involved.

Katapesh is a more benign (for a value of the word), state of affairs. As one of the premier markets of the world for slaves and drugs alike, the Sclerina have a long established presence within that land, said to have held personal congress (in more ways than one, go the stories) with its mysterious Pactmaster lords, and to be a welcome presence at the flesh fairs of Okeno. They have enough favour as clients and patrons to the slaver fleets of Okeno that the feared, yellow sailed ships are even rumoured to sometimes aid the house as enforcers for hire.
    {{A/As updated 5/8}}           

EroticFantasyAuthor

Thank you KC, much appreciated.

Wasn't sure if 250 was too much. Might lower it down to 200 or even 150.

Not sure what I'd call the middle rank, nothing is coming to me at the moment, but I do agree that it is needed.

Kolbrandr

Quote from: EroticFantasyAuthor on July 01, 2013, 01:07:05 AM
Thank you KC, much appreciated.

Wasn't sure if 250 was too much. Might lower it down to 200 or even 150.

Not sure what I'd call the middle rank, nothing is coming to me at the moment, but I do agree that it is needed.

Note that the numbers of the guard are being discussed atm.

EroticFantasyAuthor

I don't have my heart set on a certain number per se, though I'd want at least 100.

Other than that, want something that is appropriate and makes sense numbers wise.

Kolbrandr

Also, a big thanks to Meliai for putting the Sclerina writeup together, it came together nicely.

RubySlippers

I need to add my character with your okay she will head up the new areas of moneylending and indentured servant commerce under auspices of the head of the family.

Meliai

Okay, I added Sclerina to the Wiki, went through and standardized the formatting for a few of the houses (Avarae, Branas & Sclerina so far) and realized I forgot to post this when I finished it the other day:

    {{A/As updated 5/8}}           

Kolbrandr

Quote from: RubySlippers on July 01, 2013, 10:39:31 AM
I need to add my character with your okay she will head up the new areas of moneylending and indentured servant commerce under auspices of the head of the family.

Sounds as fine.

Meliai

Aaaaaaand now Durahan, Eiredor, Stormford, Tartan, Varian, and the main wiki page are all standardized as well, woooo~

[edit] All the organization pages are tied to specific PCs so I won't format them unless the player of said PC specifically asks. [/edit]
    {{A/As updated 5/8}}           

Nataleigh

Hi there, I just wanted to stick my head in and say I'm interested in joining this game, but I'm a tad overwhelmed with the amount of information flying around! I've never had the chance to play a Pathfinder game, though I've played DnD and Star Wars RPG, so I generally know the kind of system we'll be using. Are you guys alright with that? If so, I'd like to ask a few questions before I start focusing on developing a character. :)

1. I've seen a lot of background and houses being developed, but not much about the general mission once the game gets started. Do we have one, or will we decide on one later? Or is it going to be more of a "freeform, but we use the battle system" kind of thing?

2. What is the rating for this game? Are we going to be pure adventure, or will there be adult stuff, etc? Just curious on that point, so I know what to expect.

3. I'm looking at the choices of race, and was wondering if there are any hard restrictions. On the wiki it says no LA races, but I don't know what LA stands for. xD  For reference, I was looking at possibly going with a Changeling, Fetchling, or maybe one of the "humans that were tainted with elemental blood" races (Oread, Ifrit, Sylph, Undine).

I'm sure I'll think of more questions, but this is a good start. :)
I'm BACK from vacation! <3 <3 <3

We need more teachers and students at St. Jude! Please join! <3

Kolbrandr

Hey, and welcome!

1) The general mission, as it were, is something I'm trying to have determined by player agency as much as anything. Part of why I'm giving an option for "you are a powerful head of organizational stuff" is to give people an ability to set terms for how things develop, to pursue such agendas as they might have. I certainly within that intend to have overall plots someone could react to, be they a potential future succession crisis, be they the mystery of a failed coup in which the previous potential heir to the throne died, be they the clashing agendas of going to war with the nations of Galt, or Qadira, or neither, or be they some other things I'm keeping under my hat as far as potential plot developments people can react to or get involved with as they happen. I do intend to provide a game start framework that at least has everyone in the same immediate area (huge party in Taldor's big park essentially), but from there, it's as much about where players decide to try and go as anything, in directions that compliment, or oppose, or just run in some separate direction from each other. The rules will be kept in mind as that goes as far as adjudicating conflicts and the pursuit of goals and what have you.

2) From the discussion, NC-human seems to be the preference for rating, and I don't really intend to shy away from that you are in a pretty decadent, decayed society. So, there should be adult materials certainly.

3) All of those are just fine potentially. LA is basically code for playing as some kind of monster from the bestiary, like a full out demon or something. It stands for level adjustment, as in, playing as said monster counts for X amount of levels, so it adjusts how many pc class levels you can have ontop of that when you're level 14 or something. So for instance, if your LA was +4, and you were level 14, you'd have 10 levels of your pc class, and the other 4 would be paying for your being some monster thing. The actual pc races (be they from the core, from the Advanced Race Guide, or whichever) are by contrast fine (though the funkier you go, the more we need to work on some kind of justification for what you're doing in Taldor). A changeling could be pretty cool actually.

As far as all the info, you don't need to read it all honestly. Just read the first post in the thread, and I can direct you to things that would be relevant in response to interests you might otherwise express. Eyeballing the timeline (linked to in said first post besides) wouldn't be a bad idea besides.

Nataleigh

Wonderful! Changeling witch is really what I'd like to be. It's a completely new thing that I haven't tried, so I think it'll be fun. :)

Does she need to be a part of one of the houses? That would be fine if she does, I'd just have to read up on 'em to see where she'd best fit. If not, I could also make her a recluse that sorta gets caught up in things as they go down, joining the group but sorta awkward because she doesn't socialize much. Ya know? ;P

Since I haven't made a Pathfinder character before, I might need a little help so I don't mess it up. As for the characters already made for the game, are their profiles in this thread? I'd like to look at them to see how others have done it.
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kckolbe

Both Houses and organizations are completely optional.  However, since we all start with the Leadership feat for free (if we want it), forming such groups is fairly convenient. 

Also, there isn't really a group.  Oppara is kind of a free for all, everyone looking to improve their own situation, possibly at the expense of other players.  It's been more than hinted that the throne will become empty, and with no heir to claim it.  Alliances of varying kinds are to be expected, but everyone is mainly looking out for themselves. 

You will have plenty of help making a character.  We're fairly supportive in OOC.  Most of us don't have character sheets made, since we have to submit our backgrounds and organizations (if applicable) first, with such things contributing to what level we end up as.

A changeling witch sounds cool.
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Kolbrandr

She doesn't have to be affiliated to anything existing, she could be independent in some fashion or other, or she could be affiliated to some kind of organization that you build up around her. A changeling witch is certainly possible, yeap. Certainly connecting her to an existing group, be they player run or npc, is a way to draw her out into ongoing plots, but there are other ways of doing so really.

Most people are still working on their character sheets really, as noted, as my intent is to get a concept and backstory (and organization of some kind, if you want to create one, you don't have to), first. I'm also happy to help as far as working out stats and what have you, certainly, questions via thread, or via pm are just fine to send along.


Nataleigh

I know I don't want to make an organization lol... its a lot of work, and I don't have enough grasp on the setting to make a good one. :P
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Phaia

I wanted to be sure on something. The leadership feat and any cohorts we take extra are just those with us in court and Not the entirity of the house we are creating?

if not then wont that make the player the house leader and since mine is female that would be a bit difficult?

Phaia

Kolbrandr

They're not the entirety of the house you're making if you don't want em to be, no. We do have both pc and npc wise some noble houses headed by women, but they both have the drawback of "expected to get married real damn quick or otherwise their line will go extinct with them". You could otherwise for instance be a widower serving as regent for a young son, be someone with a husband you're basically dominating, be the power behind the throne equivalent, etc.

Regardless, from the thread and wiki:

QuoteTo create an organization: Beyond that, two main ways to do an organization of yours, /if/ you want to have one:

1) Very simply, take the free leadership feat, take some extra cohort within limits of what you want to deal with and your cha bonus and tada! There you are. Done. Pros: Simple, your cohort and followers are certainly loyal, and the only thing you really have to do is stat the cohorts. Cons: I'm not going to hand you larger resource bases and organizational influence for something like that comparatively speaking.

2) The more involved: Sooo.. see the Varian writeup? Basically that kind of thing but maybe somewhat more depth. I'm going to post a group writeup that is on the opposite side of the scale of super depth. If you want to be especially mega important as a group, aim basically for somewhere in the middle of those two. And how you do it is you put in some stuff on overview, history, strengths, weaknesses, membership, locations even. And as far as membership, certainly you have your cohorts and followers, but you can potentially have other people across a wider organization beyond your followers and cohorts. But, not being cohorts/followers, they can be more in flux/have agendas of their own/so forth. Also, you or another player play the cohorts, these npcs would be played out by me. They're also not people you can just grab for schemes and adventures, they are doing their own thing as part of maintaining your thing (or if a noble family, living their lives). Basically you have to be more reasoned if calling them away for a thing, but you can marshal them for larger gambits, note them for overall plans, etc. Would break down like this: the one person of your level, aka, the person who takes over if you die. Two people of a level below that, i.e. high up functionaries. Four of a level below that. And then however many of the levels below that. So for example, some hypothetical level 14 head of a major royal family would go the one 14th level sort aside from them, then two 13th, then four 12th, then however many of levels below that, within reason. And gestalt similarly, unless you don’t want them to be.

That said, you don’t, good lord, have to stat such people up, just describe them, and note their levels, ala the Varian npc entries. You also don’t have to completely fill that out if you don’t want to. You can also, as someone asked when I was talking this out with them, in fact make them of lower levels than that if you want. And if they just have npc levels, they can be whatever level so long as it isn’t higher than yours.

Similarly if someone in your group is actually an active, notable detriment to it (and kudos to you for including that sort of person), whatever level you like, just not higher than yours.

Pros: I will entirely treat you as having unto a wider resource base and reach of influence for going that way. And you know, levels for you. Cons: More work.

Phaia

well bah! I was thinking my character was the granddaughter of the current house leader

so basically no one above the character..title wise ...within the house??

Phaia

Kolbrandr

I wasn't actually picturing that scenario coming up, but if you want to go with that, that's actually not impossible really, no. Your character's level is still basically the benchmark of how high the levels in the house go, though, unless your relationship with your grandfather has some element of remarkable antagonism to it.

Phaia

if you prefer everyone being the house leader or at least title holder i can handle it...was doing just that in the first version i had the one in the order she was the leader

it would seem to me that we are all small houses that barely survive not being pucked up by a major house?

hmm i can redo everything i did to reflect that

phaia